By JESSIE ZIONTS
CONTRIBUTING WRITER
After two long years and multiple attempts to become affiliated with the University of New Hampshire, the university has finally recognized the women’s club ice hockey team.
The University of New Hampshire accepts one new club team per year. The University of New Hampshire currently has thirty-two sport clubs. In order to become affiliated, the women’s ice hockey team had to write a proposal, which the board members of the team had to present in front of a group of Campus Recreation employees. After applying for the position two years in a row, the team was finally accepted.
“Now that we are affiliated I know that a lot of us feel successful and relieved,” Emily Eno, the current president of the said.
Before becoming affiliated, the team was not allowed to advertise itself as affiliated with UNH. The team called themselves the “Stray Cats” or the “NH Cats.” However, the women are now extremely excited to be able to call themselves the UNH women’s club hockey team.
“To those of us who have been on the team for a few years now and who have aided in the application process are ecstatic to finally be affiliated because we know that all of our hard work has finally paid off,” Eno said.
The women have been competing in the American Collegiate Hockey Association Division II and the Independent Women’s Club Hockey League since the club was created two years ago. In the past years their biggest rivals have been Plymouth State and Endicott College.
“[Plymouth and Endicott] have now become DIII varsity programs,” Jennie Baker, a sophomore on the team and newly announced vice president said. “It will be interesting to see what other teams will give us strong competition.”
Although excited to finally be affiliated with UNH, the team is aware that they will be going through a two-year probation period. Each new club goes through this procedure. Being on probation for the team means that the school does not provide any funding for the team. If the team follows all the rules and stays on track during this period, then they will be able to receive funding from the school. In the meantime, the athletes are paying $900 per year to continue playing the sport they love.
One of the biggest changes for the women is that they will finally be able to practice and play in the Whittemore Center. Before becoming affiliated with the school, the women would have to travel to rinks off campus. Although they considered it a small price to pay in order to play the sport they love, the women are happy to play on the rink centered in the heart of their own campus.
“I am most excited to wear the UNH jerseys so I can represent the school that I attend and love, as well as play and practice here on campus instead of travelling,” last year’s president Julia Hird said.